Buzz
The day you feared has arrived: you need blanched, skinless almonds, and you need them fast. You could rush to the store, hoping they have them in stock, but what if they don’t? Luckily, you can easily remove the skin from regular almonds at home in no time, using just a few common household tools.
What is the process for blanching almonds?
Blanching almonds is much like blanching other foods—just dip them quickly in boiling water. Whether you’re preparing homemade almond flour, almond butter, marzipan, or just can’t stand almond skin sticking to your teeth, you’ll want the smooth, skinless almond inside. The hot water softens the skin, causing it to loosen from the almond. After just a minute in the water, the almonds are ready to be peeled effortlessly, aided by a dish towel to make the job even easier.
A Quick Method for Peeling Almonds with a Dish Towel
1. Boil them up
Fill a small pot with water, adding a pinch of salt, and bring it to a rolling boil. Once boiling, drop in a cup of raw almonds and stir gently for one minute. Meanwhile, place a clean dish or tea towel on the counter to prepare for the next step.
2. Scrub them with a tea towel
Turn off the heat and use a slotted spoon or sieve to drain the almonds. Spread them out on the tea towel. Fold the towel over to completely enclose them, then press down and rub the almonds firmly through the towel in a scrubbing motion for about ten seconds. When you open the towel, most of the almonds will be completely de-skinned.
The dish towel method is a true multitasker. It lets you handle the hot almonds safely, dries off any excess water, and helps loosen the skins with a gentle scrubbing action. It works so well that you’ll find most of the almonds skin-free after just a few scrubs.
For any almonds that still have their skins on, you can easily remove them by pinching one side of the nut. As you pick it up, you’ll notice that the skin is loose and puffy, almost like a tiny almond sleeping bag. Pinch one side and the almond will slide right out of its shell. Be sure to pinch toward a bowl or container, as you don’t want almonds flying around the kitchen.
After you’ve peeled the almonds, let them cool for at least 10 minutes before using them in any recipe. This blanching method also works for peanuts and walnuts. (Although walnuts have more nooks and crannies, so you may need to do a bit more detailed peeling at the end, most of the skin will still come off easily.)
